ISLAMABAD: A nationwide vaccination campaign targeting over 24 million children under the age of five against the poliovirus was launched on Monday. According to local media, this initiative aims to administer the anti-polio vaccine to more than 24 million children during the campaign period.
The campaign covers 91 districts across Pakistan, including 10 in Punjab, 24 in Sindh, 26 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 30 in Balochistan, and in Islamabad. It is a comprehensive effort to ensure that children in these regions receive essential protection against polio, contributing to the nation’s ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease.
It is worth mentioning here that polio has not yet been fully eradicated from Pakistan but there has been a noticeable downward trend in the number of reported cases per year in Pakistan.
In 2019, there were 147 reported cases of wild poliovirus, which decreased to 84 in 2020, and dramatically dropped to just one case in 2021. In 2022, there was a slight increase to 20 cases, followed by a decrease to six cases in 2023. As of now, in 2024, there have been two reported cases.
This declining trend highlights the significant progress made in combating polio in Pakistan, indicating the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns and other preventive measures.
—APP
